I was chatting recently with a fifth-grade teacher I\u2019ve gotten to know through our trainings and workshops. I mused that the switch to online teaching last year must have wreaked havoc on her planning. \u201cNot really,\u201d she said. \u201cI used Brain Frames, so planning was pretty easy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My reply SHOULD have been, \u201cReally? Tell me about it.\u201d What came out was something along the lines of, \u201cHoly crap, you sound like a commercial! Can I quote you?!\u201d Followed by, \u201cTell me EVERYTHING!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She assigned readings and videos. Students took notes on them using Brain Frames. Together they reviewed those notes, correcting and adding to them where necessary. Then she assigned comprehension questions about the content to spur more critical thinking, and students organized their ideas and responded — once again using Brain Frames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was great!\u201d she exuded. \u201cEach kid picked and made the Brain Frames that worked best for them, and they all showed up online with something to say. At a glance, I could see what they were talking about, and we were able to dig deeper and deeper into the content every time we met. Some of my units lasted three weeks! That\u2019s three weeks of minimal planning for me, but maximum thinking, listening, learning, speaking, and pre-writing for them!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I asked what she thought this fall was going to look like. After an eye roll\/shoulder shrug\/head shake combo move, she replied, \u201cI honestly don\u2019t know. But if all educators knew Brain Frames, it’d be such a game changer. They wouldn\u2019t have to spend so much time and energy prepping, and kids would have a way to show what they know and are learning. Can you imagine?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I absolutely can — and often do — imagine that. And more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I imagine one million educators using Brain Frames \u2013 a set of six visual tools that organize language \u2013 and getting more from their students than they ever thought possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If every one of those professionals has 25 students, that\u2019s 25 million students using visual tools that help them access rich content, power charge their own learning, and contribute to a learning community by sharing their ideas confidently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
THAT\u2019s a game changer. I\u2019m all in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n